LewisLorenz
Recruit
- 5
- Jun 18, 2018
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Welcome to the Forum. Good luck on your search.Just joined today. I haven't had time to explore everything here yet, but can't wait to do so.
I am trying to gather historical information on my dad, Charles Barnard Lorenz, who died in 2002. During the years preceding his death his ability to communicate deteriorated making it difficult to get much information from him about his career in the USAAF during the war.
He was a member of the 394th Fighter Squadron of the 367th Fighter Group during the year that the Group moved from England to Germany (May 1944 to May 1945). He purchased Richard Groh's book, The Dynamite Gang: The 367th Fighter Group in World War II, which he read thoroughly and made many notations. He was an ordnance officer (1st Lt.), he was not a pilot, and he was not named in the book, which is not unsurprising considering the large number of support personnel necessary to make that Group work. I am trying to find out something about his time with the 367th.
Are there resources such as personnel rosters, etc., that would help fill in some of the details of his time in?
Thanks.
a. [National Archives instructions as described earlier in item #3.]
b. Check with the state historical society and the state veteran museum where he lived before or after the war, they may have some records about him or his unit.
c. Check with the local historical society where he lived when he entered the military. Many communities kept pretty good information about local Soldiers during wartime. Some communities compiled this information and published books detailing local Veterans' experiences.
d. Check with the local VA office where he lived after he returned from the war. If he applied for any of the VA benefits that he earned, then they should have a file on him, which would contain some information about his military service. If he did not survive the war but had dependents, you can still try this because his dependents may have been able to use some of the benefits he earned.
e. The county courthouse where he lived after the war may also be a resource. Today in the military we are encouraged to file our separation documents at our local courthouse, that way there will always be a certified copy of these important documents if we lose our personal copy. I do not know how far back this practice started, but it is worth a try. During WWII the separation document was usually "WD AGO FORM 53-55". I do not think there was a specific form for this during WWI, because my great-grandfather's separation document was a simple, half page memorandum.
f. Search through the old, local newspapers where he lived when he entered the military. Local Soldiers often made the local paper, more often in small towns, but sometimes in large cities as well. This can be time consuming, yet very rewarding. If you do not live in the same community he lived in at that time, you can obtain copies of these newspapers on microfilm through an interlibrary loan at your local library. Plus, everyday more and more newspaper archives can be found on the internet.
g. If he belonged to the VFW, American Legion, or some other Veteran's organization, then it is possible that someone at the local post might have known him and might be able to provide some useful information. Some posts maintain detailed information about their current and past members, some posts do not.
h. Check with family, even distant relatives. Some relative might have letters, mementos, records, or other pertinent information your Veteran sent home during the war. Some relative may also have a scrap book of newspaper clippings or other mementos.
I did yesterday. I have ninety days to wait, I guess.Welcome aboard. Did you ordered a copy of his service records?
I received that info. Thank you. Is there a site where I can access this info on my own to look up other people?I will send you the enlistment info shortly....
Just joined today. I haven't had time to explore everything here yet, but can't wait to do so.
I am trying to gather historical information on my dad, Charles Barnard Lorenz, who died in 2002. During the years preceding his death his ability to communicate deteriorated making it difficult to get much information from him about his career in the USAAF during the war.
He was a member of the 394th Fighter Squadron of the 367th Fighter Group during the year that the Group moved from England to Germany (May 1944 to May 1945). He purchased Richard Groh's book, The Dynamite Gang: The 367th Fighter Group in World War II, which he read thoroughly and made many notations. He was an ordnance officer (1st Lt.), he was not a pilot, and he was not named in the book, which is not unsurprising considering the large number of support personnel necessary to make that Group work. I am trying to find out something about his time with the 367th.
Are there resources such as personnel rosters, etc., that would help fill in some of the details of his time in?
Thanks.
Thank you.Hi Lewis,
I have 2 different rosters of the 367th FG. One by squadron and one by US states. I can find your father Charles B. Lorenz on the first one. The men on the roster by state were the men who joined the 367th FG association. Maybe he never contacted this association of former men of the 367th FG.
Olivier
Thank you.
I doubt he would have joined the association. Does the roster contain any information other than name? Is it available for access somewhere?
I received that info. Thank you. Is there a site where I can access this info on my own to look up other people?